Following Mumbai Indians new recruit Dwayne Smith's match-winning boundary on Sunday against Chennai Super Kings, MiD DAY recaps similar instances in limited overs cricket when a batsman hit a four or a six to seal victory
Hrishikesh Kanitkar
VS Pakistan, Dhaka ODI (3rd Final): Jan 18, 1998
India won the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup in a breathless climax under floodlights. They were in pursuit of a world-record 315 (more than any team had ever made batting second to win a one-day international at the time). After Sachin Tendulkar (41) and Sourav Ganguly added a 179-run stand for the opening wicket, Ganguly and pinch-hitter Robin Singh consolidated as India reached 250-1 in 38 overs — and looked set to create history. But India lost six wickets in the last ten overs (with bad light having trimmed two from each innings). It was Hrishikesh Kanitkar who hit the winning four in the penultimate ball off Pakistan’s best bowler Saqlain Mushtaq. Fourteen years on, it remains one of India’s greatest victories in limited-overs cricket.
Hasn’t sunk in yet! Hrishikesh Kanitkar (left) with India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin after victory at Dhaka. MiD DAY Archives
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Michael Bevan
VS West Indies, Sydney ODI: Jan 1, 1996
Michael Bevan, who finished his career with an average of above 50 in ODIs, was aptly nicknamed “the finisher” for he helped Australia cross the line in tense contests on numerous occasions. One of his most famous innings was in the New Year’s ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground against the West Indies in 1996. Australia were chasing 173 off 43 overs for victory, but a batting collapse and the team falling to 74-7 made the total look severely out of reach. With Shane Warne’s dismissal leaving the score at 167-9 and Glenn McGrath striding out, Australia’s fate was in Bevan’s hands. With four required off the last ball, the southpaw dispatched Roger Harper down the long-on boundary to seal a famous win.
The finisher: Michael Bevan (right) celebrates victory in the New Year’s ODI at the SCG. Pic/Getty Images
Asif Mujtaba
VS Australia, Hobart ODI: December 10, 1992
Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback that culminated in Asif Mujtaba hitting a slower ball from Steve Waugh for six over mid-wicket to tie this incredible one-dayer. Chasing 229, Pakistan were to 123-5 in the 36th over when Salim Malik was dismissed. Mujtaba and Rashid Latif gave them hope with a 68-run stand but 12 were still needed when Waugh ran in for the last over. Pakistan needed seven off the last ball. Though Mujtaba’s six registered a tie, and not a win, Pakistan was the only team celebrating at the Bellerive Oval.
Rajesh Chauhan
VS Pakistan, Karachi ODI: September 30, 1997
It was a match marred by stone-throwing from a hostile crowd. Inzaman-ul-Haq struck 74 as the hosts posted 265-4 from their allotted 47.2 overs (innings was curtailed due to crowd disturbance). Chasing 266 from 47 overs, Ganguly set up the chase with 89 off 96 balls. India then lost four quick wickets. Robin Singh and Saba Karim added 62 to consolidate. Karim’s dismissal marked the end of India’s hopes. But Rajesh Chauhan danced down the track off Saqlain Mushtaq to hit a six over mid-wicket to seal the win.
Wayne Daniel
VS WSC Australia, World Series Cricket: Jan 24, 1978
It was a match shortened to 38 overs per-side due to rain. Chasing 213, West Indies hit a stumbling block at 123-6 with Jim Allen (58) back in the hut. Bernard Julien and Deryck Murray then added 46 to consolidate. Aus spinner Ray Bright struck, leaving them on 187-9, 27 shy of the target. The last-wicket pair of Joel Garner and Wayne Daniel had other plans. With five needed off the last two, Daniel hit Mick Malone for a huge six as Windies won.
Javed Miandad
VS India, Austral-Asia Cup Final: April 18, 1986
Pakistan had never won any tournament of significance, and the Austral-Asia Cup looked beyond their reach too as India dominated this final. In pursuit of 246, Imran Khan’s side were 110-4 before Javed Miandad orchestrated the run-chase with an unbeaten 116 off 114 balls. Even down to the last over, India were in firmly in command. A boundary was required off the last ball, with one wicket left. Chetan Sharma, with three wickets under his belt, knew what to do: bowl a yorker. His attempted yorker came out as a low full-toss that Javed blasted over the mid-wicket fence. Javed raised his arms, sprinting off in celebration. Kapil Dev’s Indians didn’t know what had hit them. If there was only one moment to epitomise the Indo-Pak rivalry, it has ought to be that sprint.u00a0
Always a hard nut: Javed Miandad en route his match-winning century against India at Sharjah in 1986. Pic/Getty Images
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